Outlined on Microsoft's website, the company says you can trade-in your iPad to get a minimum $200 gift card to put towards the purchase of a Microsoft Surface or other products available on the Microsoft Store. The deal is running from 5 September to 27 October and applies only to "select Microsoft retail stores in US (including Puerto Rico) and Canada" - sorry UK folks, you're not eligible. The trade-in programme accepts "gently used" iPad 2, 3 or 4s.

This isn't the first time Microsoft has been quick to bash or publicly go against its competitors. The company has run several advertisements comparing itself to Apple's line of products, and not to mention its aggressive advertisements against Google's line of web services.

If you fancy getting yourself a Microsoft Surface and live near a Microsoft Store, Microsoft's trade-in programme may be the way to go. We just have to suggest you wait until 23 September to see the Surface 2 we've been hearing so much about, before you make a Surface purchase. Pocket-lint will be live from the event to bring you the latest.